Business, Freight News, Sea

Piracy attacks alarm shippers

[ February 10, 2012   //   Chris ]

The European Shippers’ Council (ESC) said it was gravely concerned by the continuing problem of piracy and cargo ships. Many ESC members use shipping to transport cargo through high risk areas and, a year on from its last statement on this issue, the Council remains alarmed by the latest figures released by the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau which, although showing a decreasing number of attacks, suggest that the damage done is still unacceptably high.

ESC’s Chairman of the Maritime Transport Council, Jean-Louis Cambon, said: “The ESC believes that the protection of shipping from piracy – regardless of flag, or the nationality of the crew – is a clear and legitimate responsibility for governments under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The European Shippers’ Council urges governments around the world to uphold their responsibilities in the enforcement of the Convention, protection of their flags, and to cooperate and assist together fully in protecting all merchant shipping in their territorial waters”.